Heri Za Krismas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

$22.95 USD

Heri Za Krismas: SoundTrax Digital Audio Download

(Merry Christmas -- Swahili)

Music by Jay Althouse

Item: 00-A-00014836

$22.95

Digital Download

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Series: Alfred Choral Designs

Publisher: Alfred Music

SKU: 00-A-00014836

More about this title

About the Composer: Jay Althouse

Jay Althouse studied music education and music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he later received the Distinguished Alumni award. He spent eight years working in rights and licensing for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America during that tenure.

With more than 800 choral compositions in print, Althouse has established himself as a prolific voice in choral music across all levels. His work has earned him recognition as a writer member of ASCAP and consistent recipients of the ASCAP Special Award. Beyond composition, he has collaborated with his wife Sally K. Albrecht on children's musicals, compiled vocal solo collections, and authored widely used classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book and Accent on Composers. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.

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Why we love this

Althouse brings his gift for accessible, singable writing to a celebration of a Swahili Christmas tradition, making this piece both musically engaging and culturally meaningful for your choir. The movement and staging options built into the score give you flexibility to create something visually memorable without requiring elaborate production, and the recorded accompaniment support helps rehearsal move forward efficiently.

What to expect

Heri Za Krismas brings warmth, joy, and a sense of global community to the Christmas season. The piece celebrates a musical tradition rooted in East African culture while maintaining the accessibility and singability that makes it work in any concert setting.

Who it's for

This piece works beautifully for choirs seeking to expand their holiday programming beyond traditional Western repertoire. It suits ensembles of intermediate ability or higher who want to engage with world music in a performance-ready arrangement.

How to get the most out of it

Study the movement suggestions carefully during early rehearsals; blocking this piece early allows singers to integrate the physical and musical elements gradually rather than as an afterthought.
Balance the cultural authenticity of the text and melody with your choir's comfort level; singers perform with greater confidence when they understand the context and meaning of what they're singing.
Layer the accompaniment in strategically during rehearsals; start with voices alone to establish the melodic and harmonic foundation, then introduce the recorded track to lock in ensemble.
Pay attention to any language-specific pronunciation notes in the score; even straightforward Swahili vowels benefit from clear articulation to honor the text.

How to use it

Consider placing this alongside other multicultural holiday selections to create a themed program segment, or feature it as a standalone contemporary Christmas moment that contrasts with more traditional repertoire. Its movement component makes it equally compelling as a concert opener or as a memorable closing piece.